The generosity of the poor

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This week was an emotional week for me. We accepted a transfer from a local primary hospital for a 30 week neonate born there, but with significant breathing problems. We received the child after a long ambulance ride (about 2-3 hours). He was on oxygen, but cold, hypoxic and having a really difficult time breathing. Thank you so much for the generous donation from ONY biotech we were able to provide this child with a life saving medication called Infasurf (a form of surfactant). This medicine is a protein given directly into the lungs. Premature babies are born without this protein and it makes their lungs very stiff.  With this medication, the lungs become more compliant and able to diffuse oxygen into the blood stream better. This medicine is very difficult and very expensive to find in Ethiopia and we have been able to provide it free to our patients. 

This child has had a long road of recovery, but is doing well and getting stronger every day. 

But the hospital's benevolence fund is running low, so we have not been able to provide free medical care to as many of our patients as we would like. So we asked this family to pay a deposit for the first week of medical care and then pay another deposit the next week for the medical care provided in our neonatal intensive care unit. 

The family returned to their rural town to fund-raise and collect money to provide the money for this life saving care of this neonate. This child is SO loved!

What does fundraising look like in Ethiopia? It is going door-to-door in your community or your church or amongst your family. Everyone gives as they are able. This is the list of names of those that have given and the amount they have donated in numbers written next to it. It's hard to read, but most gifts ranged from 10 to 50 birr. The current exchange means that people could only give between 18¢ - 92¢. From this child's community 49 families opened their purses to give what they were able, which amounted to about $30 towards the $50 deposit needed to admit their child to our neonatal care unit.

As I read this paper, covered with love, sweat, tears, dirt and names I thank God for this child's community and the blessing that will come to those that have so generously given out of the little they have. 

I also thank God for those that have faithfully given to the benevolence fund here at Soddo to be able to cover so the rest of this child's expenses. 

This child's life is a testament of love and generosity across the globe.


"41 Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. 42 Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. 43 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. 44 For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.” Mark 12: 41-44 NLT

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